Author(s)

Gallant Kar Lun Chan, Zack Chun Fai Wong, Kelly Yin Ching Lam, Lily Kwan Wai Cheng, Laura Minglu Zhang, Huangquan Lin, Tina Tingxia Dong, Karl Wah Keung Tsim^*

Division of Life Science and Center for Chinese Medicine R&D, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.

Edible bird’s nest (EBN; Yan Wo), or cubilose, is originated from the salivary secretion of Aerodramus fuciphagus. In Asia, EBN is famous for its unproven skin lightening function. Here, we aim to reveal the active ingredients of EBN responsible for skin lightening function. Three major fractions were isolated from EBN water extract by chromatography using LC-MS/MS, bioactivities of these isolated fractions were analyzed by assays of tyrosinase, melanocytes and 3D human skin model, from which, N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), the second isolated fraction showed an inhibition effect on tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ of tyrosinase originated from mushroom and human was 16.93 mM and 0.10 mM respectively. Furthermore, only EBN with higher content of NANA (e.g. White and Red EBN), but not EBN with less NANA (e.g. Grass EBN), showed promising skin lightening function. This is the first report to reveal NANA being an active ingredient of EBN on skin lightening function.

Cubilose, N-Acetylneuraminic Acid, Chemical Analysis, Skin Lightening, Human Skin Model

Chan, G. , Wong, Z. , Lam, K. , Cheng, L. , Zhang, L. , Lin, H. , Dong, T. and Tsim, K. (2015) Edible Bird’s Nest, an Asian Health Food Supplement, Possesses Skin Lightening Activities: Identification of N-Acetylneuraminic Acid as Active Ingredient. Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, 5, 262-274. doi: 10.4236/jcdsa.2015.54032.